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Explaining the Environmental Assessment process
The City of Toronto has initiated an individual Environmental Assessment (EA) of a long-term residual solid waste management system (the undertaking). Residual solid waste, more commonly known as garbage, is the waste that remains after recycling and composting. The EA will address the management of approximately 360,000 to 400,000 metric tonnes of residual solid waste per year that will remain after the City completes the introduction of its current plans and programs for waste reduction, including such programs as the Green Bin organics collection program.

In order to meet the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act, the City is required to consider a range of reasonable waste management options and justify its conclusions. The options identified to date are:

• current landfill usage (i.e. disposal in Michigan) – the “status quo” option;

• alternative landfills in Ontario;

• one or more new landfills developed by the City;

• current incineration facilities in Ontario;

• one or more new incinerators developed by the City;

• engagement of new and emerging technologies (i.e. biological, physical, chemical, or thermal forms of treatment – which can be done in combination); and

• engaging new and emerging policies and practices to increase reuse, reduction, recycling and composting.

During the course of the EA, the City may contract for one or more new and emerging technologies on a research level, subject to Council approval.

The Provincial Government is the regulator of waste management in Ontario. Approval by the Minister of the Environment would be required before the City proceeded with the outcome of its EA.

The City established a Community Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT), comprised of 22 Toronto citizens, to guide the City of Toronto's environmental assessment for the management of residual solid waste under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. The City will proceed to draft the Terms of Reference for the EA with the input of CEAT members and other stakeholders. The City requires the approval of the Terms of Reference by the Minister of the Environment prior to beginning the actual assessment process of different waste management options.